This is the thirteenth in a series of "portraits"
of the Minor Arcana, written in Liz's unique style. All cards are inspired
by and illustrated with the Vala Tarot, a deck designed and illustrated by
Elizabeth Hazel.

Ten
of Wands

Winter
comes unbidden to this land.Trees
die their annual death - leaves of bronze and vermillion are stripped by
implacable winds.Naked branches
rise to arctic skies in supplication of spring.Below am I.Smothered by the
weight of the needy trees, enchained by grasping roots, I die the death of life
and the death of death.Monumental
failure recedes to expose the blood soaked indignity of the fallen.No stone marks the small ground earned by the slaughtered
pawn.The battle horn's call to
glory has become the cawing of the unforgiven crow.Ambitions are carrion, steadfast ardor rots into oppressive obscurity.Marching rows of centurions, crusaders, cavaliers and infantry grind on
above my head.Civilizations rise
and fall.Kings are reclaimed by
the soil; the land where their commands and laws and majesty once ruled now
harvests their bones.These are the
spoils of oblivion.Silent shades
are here; the angry gods have abandoned this realm.

Two
of Cups

This
moment - so gentle and tender - tears the shielding cloud from my hidden heart.Did your eyes meet mine?Did
they speak to you of things my mouth is too timid to say?Beneath the small rituals of daily living lies the rich command of desire
for the perfect other.I know now
the power of this call that throbs through the pulse of nature.Companion, friend, lover - will you answer to these names in accord, with
freely offered love?The melody of
morning birds cannot be so sweet as our first meeting.This rapture is our possession, our compelling awareness.No other event is so human, so singular, so precious to the secret heart
than when two souls merge and separateness dissolves into union.Were a crown placed upon my brow, or jeweled sceptre yielded to my hand,
it would not be so dear a treasure as your heart answering the call of mine.

You can read the first installment of this series here.
You can read the last installment of the series here.

Elizabeth Hazel is a tarotist, astrologer and rune reader. Her original art
for the Vala Tarot was inspired by a life time of reading the cards, and she is
seeking a publisher for the deck. Liz enjoys music and gardening.